Plot
Love is a riddle waiting to be solved… Clued-up career girl Cassy Brookes has life under control until one disastrous morning changes everything. When she finds herself stuck in a doctor s surgery, a cryptic message left in a crossword magazine sends her on a search to find the mysterious puzzle-man behind it. Cassy is soon torn between tracking down her elusive dream guy, and outwitting her nightmare workmate, the devious Martin. Facing a puzzling love-life, will she ever be able to fit the pieces together and discover the truth behind this enigmatic man?
Review
This book caught my eye as it had “puzzle” in the title.
There are a smattering of cryptic clues spread throughout this debut novel by Rachael Featherstone, but it’s more a love story following the puzzles obsessed Cassidy Brookes and her attempts to find “puzzle-man”.
Cassy Brookes has been working for a marketing company since graduation and is slowly making her way to the top. When the Head of Accounts goes on maternity leave it is up to her and rival account director, Martin, to step up to the plate and handle the big clients.
At the same time, her boyfriend of 7 years leaves her.
So now she is juggling extra work, vying for promotion and dealing with a broken love life. And, as if that wasn’t enough, as she heads into the office to make her big pitch, she is run over by a cyclist and has to be helped to wobble into a nearby walk-in(!) NHS centre.
Finding only an old puzzle book to pass the time awaiting the doctor, Cassy writes her own cryptic puzzle in the book. When she returns for a check-up she is surprised to note that someone has replied. Will finding the mystery puzzle-solver be the cure to all her problems ? This is the start of her obsession to find the man (for it must be a man) who is obviously just as much puzzle obsessed as she is and who sends her messages via the puzzle book.
Finding ‘Mr Right’, AKA Puzzle -Man is not going to be easy. For a start, how often can you just drop in to a walk-in clinic without arousing suspicion?.
Interspersed with the hunt for puzzle man are other storylines.
There is her friendship with Dan, who is facing problems of his own. A loveable character, you really hope everything turns out well for him.
There is the newly engaged work friend, the golf loving boss, the NHS receptionist and, of course, Martin the rival too.
I enjoyed reading the book and guessed some of the twists before Cassy did. However, I didn’t guess the twist towards the end. What was it? You’ll have to read the book to puzzle it out!
Puzzle Girl is entertaining, fun and a great read. Available from Amazon and City Adventurers Solve The Murder
